The clinical study of the value of 99TcmO4- dynamic scintigraphy in submandibular gland translocation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of 99Tcm O4- scintigraphy in submandibular gland translocation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. Methods: Seventy NPC cases were divided into experimental group (36 cases) and control group (34 cases). The control group underwent routine radiotherapy directly. The experimental group was examined by radionuclide dynamic scintigraphy with 99Tcm O4- 1 d before submandibular gland translocation. Based on the SPECT images, the better functioning submandibular gland was chosen to translocate next day. 99Tcm O4- submandibular gland scintigraphy was repeated and radiotherapy started. The radiation induced xerostomia symptom of the patients was recorded. All data were statistically analyzed by Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results: The radiation induced injury of translocated submandibular gland was significantly lowered. The functions of translocated submandibular gland and non-translocated one had significant difference after radiation (P<0.01). Only 13.9% of the patients in the experimental group showed moderate or severe degree of xerostomia, whereas control group was 76.5%, also showed a statistical difference between them (P<0.01). Conclusion: 99Tcm O4- dynamic imaging of submandibular gland can accurately and sensitively evaluate its function after translocation. (authors)